When Lady Luck smiles on you, it’s a great feeling. But if you are having a run of bad luck, the feeling isn’t so hot. And if you gamble beyond your means, it can cause problems. Gambling is a form of entertainment – just like going to the movies or having a meal out. It’s fun and the secret to keeping it fun is to gamble responsibly.Winning and losing
Winning is an adrenaline rush. It can put you on Cloud Nine. But it’s important to accept that sometimes you’ll win and sometimes you’ll lose. So only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Never play with money needed for living expenses such as food or bills. A good tip is to decide on how much you want to wager and stick to that amount. If you are having a losing streak, accept that’s the nature of the beast and don’t play until your last pound is gone.Ups and down
If you stay in the driver’s seat and bet when you can afford it, you will enjoy yourself. But if gambling stops being fun that’s the time to stop. Take a break and do something else. If it gets to a point where you are left stressed and anxious, can’t sleep or are borrowing to finance your playing, that’s a wake up call. Seek some advice or if it is really bad, get help.Keeping a balance
Take care of yourself to make sure that the decisions you make are the right ones. Don’t gamble when you are tired, upset or depressed. This could impair your judgement. And if you lose money, don’t play for higher stakes to try and recoup your losses. Think of gambling as a hobby. If you played golf, liked to go hiking or skiing, you wouldn’t let those interests take over your life. It’s the same with gambling. If gambling is your only form of entertainment, have a break or take up other activities to bring some perspective and balance back into your life.

Played responsibly, gambling can be fun and exciting. However, for a small number of people, gambling can become a problem. Don’t be one of them. Play for entertainment. Don’t let gambling control your life. Stay behind the wheel and have a fun ride.